Stocks edge higher to open of the 4th quarter as signs of slow growth keep lid on gains

Stocks nudge higher as manufacturing improves

NEW YORK — Stocks are starting October with moderate gains after some encouraging signs on manufacturing.

Shares of big manufacturing companies like Boeing and GE rose Friday after the Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index showed that factory activity was still expanding in September.

According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 42, or 0.4 percent, to close at 10,830.

The S&P 500 index rose 5, or 0.4 percent, to 1,146.24, and the Nasdaq composite rose 2, or 0.1 percent, to 2,371.

About two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 1.1 billion shares.